Star Ocean: The Last Hope Blasts Off For Xbox 360 Today

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Square Enix delivers highly anticipated prequel to North American fans.

By IGN Staff

LOS ANGELES (February 24, 2009) – Square Enix, Inc., the publisher of Square Enix interactive entertainment products in North America, announced today that STAR OCEAN: THE LAST HOPE for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft has shipped to retailers in North America. The title is a prequel to the acclaimed futuristic space opera RPG series, STAR OCEAN, and is the franchise's first entry on Xbox 360.

Development studio tri-Ace Inc. delivers spectacular new visuals alongside exhilarating real-time battles with this highly anticipated prequel. STAR OCEAN: THE LAST HOPE is the first installment in the series in which players will be able to control their own spaceship, moving from planet to planet as they explore the vastness of space. This unique RPG experience also allows players to seamlessly switch between characters in-game and engage in team-oriented combat as they advance through the captivating storyline.

Launching today in North America shortly after the game's release in Japan last week, Square Enix continues to deliver global simultaneous launches for its fans around the world.

STORY

The year is A.D. 2087. In the aftermath of World War III, Earth has been ravaged and the population decimated by a deteriorating environment. The countries that survived have joined together to form the Greater Unified Nations and turned their eyes skyward…to space.

Edge Maverick and his childhood friend Reimi Saionji are chosen as pioneer members of the Space Reconnaissance Force, which was created to seek out new worlds beyond the stars. Their ship, the Calnus, takes its place on the lunar launch pad along with four other starships of the first reconnaissance fleet. These ships – humanity's last hope – blast off one-by-one and sail into the awaiting wormhole that leads to the vast star ocean.

And so, Edge and his crew begin their voyage in search of a new haven for humanity...and a second chance.

FEATURES

Combines sci-fi and fantasy elements, spanning multiple planets and the vastness of space itself to recount the origins of the STAR OCEAN universe

Item creation and Private Actions, two hallmarks of the STAR OCEAN franchise, also make their return, allowing for players to enjoy upgraded versions of both systems

Up to four characters can take part in battles simultaneously and party members can be switched mid-battle

New Blindside battle system fuses evasion and offense, enabling players to confuse and ambush enemies by quickly moving out of their line of sight when targeted

Freely pilot the Calnus spaceship for the first time in the series and journey to various planets of the STAR OCEAN universe

Features breathtaking CG movies by Visual Works, the cutting-edge studio whose previous work includes cutscenes for the acclaimed FINAL FANTASY series

STAR OCEAN: THE LAST HOPE is rated T (Teen). Please visit the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) website at www.esrb.org for more information about ratings. STAR OCEAN: THE LAST HOPE is available at North American retailers for the suggested retail price of $59.99 (USD). The official website can be found at http://na.square-enix.com/starocean/.

About Square Enix Co., Ltd. and Square Enix, Inc.

Square Enix Co., Ltd. (Square Enix), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd., with headquarters in Tokyo, Japan, develops, publishes and distributes entertainment content including interactive entertainment software and publications in Asia, North America and Europe. Square Enix brings two of Japan's best-selling franchises – FINAL FANTASY, which has sold over 85 million units worldwide, and DRAGON QUEST, which has sold over 47 million units worldwide – under one roof. Square Enix is one of the most influential providers of digital entertainment content in the world and continues to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation.

Square Enix, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. with offices in Los Angeles, California. It handles operations in North America, including development, localization, marketing and publishing of Square Enix titles. More information on Square Enix can be found on the Internet at http://www.square-enix.com.

DRAGON QUEST, FINAL FANTASY, SQUARE ENIX and the SQUARE ENIX logo are registered trademarks of Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. in the United States and/or other countries. STAR OCEAN, the STAR OCEAN logo and THE LAST HOPE are registered trademarks or trademarks of Square Enix Co., Ltd. in the United States and/or other countries. Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license from owner. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.